The conventional wisdom is that the GOP candidate for Sangamon County sheriff, WES BARR, had his toughest battle in the Republican primary, when he defeated Undersheriff JACK CAMPBELL.

New campaign finance reports also give fuel to the idea that Barr could have an easier time in the Nov. 4 general election with his Democratic opponent, JEFF REGAN.

But, of course, much can happen between now and then.

In the three months that ended June 30, Barr raised more than $42,000 and ended up with about $32,000 in the bank. He also has more than $30,000 in campaign debts, but he said those don’t have to be paid off before the general election.

Regan raised $3,900, spent less than $2,500 and ended June with $2,320 in the bank.

Regan said his campaign is building by the day, and he thinks the work he did running against incumbent Sheriff NEIL WILLIAMSON in 2010 — a race in which he got more than 26,000 votes — helped his name recognition. Williamson got more than 45,000 votes in that race.

Regan also said he’s finishing up a class at the University of Illinois Springfield, where he just has exams and a dissertation — which usually takes about a year — remaining as he seeks a doctorate in public administration. He also left his job last month as interim executive director of the American Red Cross Capital Area Chapter, allowing him now to do full-time campaigning.

Though money is important, Regan said, “it’s more about meeting people and getting my message out.” He also said there seems to be a “more robust effort” this year for top Democrats, including U.S. Sen. DICK DURBIN, D-Ill., to support local campaign efforts.

Barr, who left the sheriff’s office as a lieutenant to make the run for sheriff, is also a full-time candidate.

“Obviously, we’re very happy with the amount of support we’re receiving,” Barr said. “We are continuing implementing our plan.”

That has included being in parades, including the July 4 parade in Jerome, where Williamson and his wife, PATTI, joined Barr.

Williamson, who backed Campbell in the primary, asked Barr if he could join him in the parade to “show unity” and mend any fences.

He said he “totally” backs Barr, who is the candidate of his party, and Barr, as sheriff, will “be just fine.”

“The people spoke, and I support Wes,” Williamson said.

Women have ‘passion’

At his “Women for Jobe” fundraiser last week, Springfield Ward 6 Ald. CORY JOBE certainly had a message tailored to the crowd at Julia’s Kitchen and Lounge.

“It’s no secret that women in this community are the foundation for change,” Jobe said after being introduced by his mother, CHERYL, who made the trip up from Jobe’s hometown of Robinson.

Page 2 of 3 - He said women are “instrumental to moving our city forward, to providing safe homes, to improving the health and wellness of our children, ensuring our kids are receiving a quality education, and to providing secure jobs for our families.”

While he said he would form a women’s advisory committee, Jobe said after the speech that the chair of that group would be announced “shortly.” Also yet to be announced — he said in 30 days — is if he’s running for mayor.

“We have a lot of women here tonight, and a lot of women have been encouraging me to look at the race for mayor,” he said. He said the advisory committee would be to “talk to us about certain issues that we all really are concerned about — our education system, safer streets, economic development, all of those sorts of things that everyday women are very concerned about.”

Asked where men might fit into this scenario, Jobe noted that he has long worked for a woman, state Comptroller JUDY BAAR TOPINKA, and many of the neighborhood associations he works with are led by women.

“Women know how to get the job done,” he said. “Not saying you and I as men don’t know how to get the job done, but I think women are passionate. I’m passionate about the city of Springfield. So are they. … I want their passion as much as they want my passion for this city.”

Already running for mayor are incumbent Mike Houston and Sangamon County Auditor PAUL PALAZZOLO. City Treasurer JIM LANGFELDER has said he’ll formally announce for mayor later this summer.

Treasurer Schuering

TONY SCHUERING is the new treasurer of the Sangamon County Democratic Party.

Schuering, 22, is a junior in legal studies at the UIS, but he is also vice president of a business called Municipal Consulting Group. He says that business helps smaller communities with tax increment financing and other economic development strategies.

After first-term party treasurer KATHRYN DINARDO, a precinct committeeman from Rochester, had to resign her treasurer duties due to family illness in recent weeks, Schuering, of Springfield, was ultimately named as her replacement.

Springfield Ward 3 Ald. DORIS TURNER, who chairs the party, said Schuering had earlier expressed interest in the post and already had experience, as he is also treasurer of Sangamon County Young Democrats. He said he told Turner he was “happy to step up” and take the party treasurer job.

Schuering had served a term as an elected precinct committeeman but hadn’t run this spring. Turner appointed him to be committeeman in the Capital 67 precinct. Former party treasurer JUDITH JOHNSON, a committeeman and member of the Springfield School Board, handled filing of the party’s latest quarterly report on an interim basis.

Page 3 of 3 - Turner said she’s excited to have Schuering in the job.

“He’s very active with the party,” she said.

The county Democratic Party ended June with $2,811 on hand, while the Young Democrats group had $3,050.

Yes, Republicans had more. The county GOP central committee reported $107,175 in the bank, while the Sangamon County Republican Foundation, which provides support for party activities and candidates, had $162,074 as of June 30.

Republican gubernatorial candidate BRUCE RAUNER and his wife, DIANA, by the way, gave $5,000 to the foundation, while the county GOP central committee gave $5,000 to the Rauner campaign.